Empower Engenharia, a leading technical consultancy in Latin America, has conducted a detailed performance analysis comparing different photovoltaic (PV) module technologies in the Brazilian market. The study evaluated the efficiency, reliability, and energy yield of back-contact modules (LONGi Hi-MO 9) and TOPCon modules (both standard and oversized) using a real utility-scale solar project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, as a case study.
The project analyzed features a total installed capacity of 467.3 MWp (362.5 MW AC) over a 595-hectare area. Minas Gerais, one of Brazil’s key solar energy hubs, benefits from exceptional solar irradiance exceeding 2,000 kWh/m² annually. However, the region’s wide temperature variations—ranging from 11.1°C to 40.8°C—pose challenges such as thermal stress, potential efficiency loss, and accelerated module degradation.
Within this context, LONGi’s Hi-MO 9 modules, built with its proprietary HPBC 2.0 back-contact cell technology, demonstrated superior performance. The busbar-free front design enhances power output and conversion efficiency, making Hi-MO 9 a standout in both energy yield and operational stability.
Key performance advantages of the Hi-MO 9 modules highlighted by Empower Engenharia include:
- Higher efficiency by eliminating micro-shading through back-contact architecture.
- Improved layout flexibility with higher pitch and reduced ground coverage ratio (GCR), minimizing shading losses and optimizing tracker performance.
- Reduced ohmic losses due to lower operating current.
- Lower light-induced degradation (LID) compared to other module types.
- Cooler operating temperatures, boosting performance in Brazil’s hot climate.
- Enhanced resilience under partial shading, uneven irradiance, and soiling conditions.
- Slower long-term degradation thanks to premium materials and advanced manufacturing.
Empower’s findings underscore the importance of continued innovation in solar module design to enhance energy yield, reduce lifecycle costs, and support global sustainability goals. LONGi’s Hi-MO 9 line represents a major step forward for Brazil’s and the world’s solar markets—delivering cleaner, more reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions that accelerate the renewable energy transition.
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